Are you looking for a way to turn your stained, cracked, chipped, or misaligned smile into one of your greatest assets? With porcelain veneers, you can.
Porcelain veneers are handcrafted from durable dental porcelain and placed on the front of your teeth by Dr. Heap. The whole process takes only two visits and the finished results look completely natural, meaning that you can finally have the dazzling smile you’ve been dreaming of.
We recommend removing your wisdom teeth between the age of 17 and 19 to minimize complications. But we know how nervous oral surgery can make some patients. That’s why our office uses IV sedation for our wisdom tooth extractions. You can rest comfortably during the procedure and you won’t remember a thing when it’s over.
Wisdom Teeth—A Real Pain in the Mouth
As your wisdom teeth try to force their way through your gums, your smile can become susceptible to a wide range of trouble, including impaction, misalignment, jaw pain, and gum disease. Bacteria and food can find their way beneath an impacted tooth, causing infection. A molar that’s coming through at an odd angle can put pressure on your other teeth, leading to misalignment and potentially damaging healthy roots. And wisdom teeth that have developed cysts can damage your jaw, requiring more extensive surgery.
Making Wisdom Tooth Extraction Comfortable with Sedation
Having your wisdom teeth removed doesn’t have to be scary. Our office uses IV sedation to make you comfortable before the procedure begins. When you awaken afterwards, we bet you won’t even remember anything about the procedure at all.
It’s better to have your wisdom teeth removed sooner rather than later. More than just an annoyance, they can have serious consequences for your smile if left alone. Call our office today to set up an appointment with Dr. Heap. Removing your wisdom teeth now can save your smile.
This may sound like an odd title for a blog post. And you may be thinking I would write that because I want people to see me for some kind of expensive exam or something.
But the truth is that sometimes I get a little disappointed with my profession and some of the people in it. This week we have seen a lot of patients come to us for second opinions regarding treatment other dentists had told them they needed. What we found is that most of these treatment plans were very large and included a lot of treatment that really didn’t need to be done. The one thing these patients had in common was that they had gone somewhere based on a coupon promising a $39 exam and x-rays.
What good is a $39 exam if you come away being told you need $4,000 or $10,000 worth of work? In all fairness, some people really need that much work done. But a lot of people don’t. They are at the mercy of what the dentist tells them.
When I came out of dental school, I thought that all dentists were the same and had the same ethics. Unfortunately by sad circumstance I have realized that is not the case.
Am I saying that the way I treat teeth is the best? No, but some of the things I found planned for these patients was just blatant over-treatment. They were going to have their teeth drilled on for no reason!
So just remember, it is okay to go in for the cheap exam and x-rays, but be very careful about what gets planned for you. If it sounds like way more work than you think you need, that should be a clue. If you have been in for cleanings pretty regularly and brush your teeth regularly, you should questoin any recommendation for a “deep cleaning” or for thousands of dollars worth of work.
If your teeth are in bad shape or you aren’t brushing and flossing ever, you should probably expect a big treatment plan.
If you have any questions about a treatment plan or anything written here, please e-mail me at heapdds@gmail.com or call the office.
Again, I am not trying to steal you away from your new dentist or overly criticize every dentist in order to make myself look better. Every dentist works a little different. I’ve just seen too much recently that has me a little worked up.
Thanks!
Any time you are choosing a healthcare provider, you always wonder where you can find out the things that other people already know. It is easier to decide on a dentist when you know what to look for and exactly what to ask. Then you can decide by comparing your wants and desires with the services that will be provided by the various choices you have for a dentist.
Here are some key questions you can ask over the phone before you make an appointment. These four questions will help you find the right dental care provider for you:
1. What continuing education has the dentist taken in the last 12 months? New developments in dentistry are emerging every day. Leading edge technologies, new ways to diagnose, and better treatments are being discovered, tested, and confirmed regularly. The dentist of choice should be keeping up with all of the newest developments. You will want to have a dentist who knows all of the potential treatments for every condition. State requirements, however, are minimal to maintain a license to practice dentistry. For instance, in Texas a dentist is only required to have 12 hours of continuing education each year. Is the dentist just doing the minimum required to stay in practice or striving to stay educated so you will stay healthy? If the appointment coordinator on the phone can’t tell you what courses have been taken lately, it is likely that there haven’t been very many!
2. How long will it take to perform my initial examination? Be sure that you are going to a dentist who will provide a thorough exam so that you and the dentist will be totally aware of your entire oral health condition. Check to see if the dentist will take the time with you to discuss your condition and treatment options. A thorough dentist will set aside at least an hour or more to do a complete exam and consultation.
3. What is included in my initial exam? Some dentists just take a cursory glance around and ask what hurts. This may be a “look-see” to detect the obvious, but it isn’t an effective exam that will protect you and your long-term health.
There are four things a thorough exam should include:
(a) A check of all your teeth for decay including the current condition of any existing restorations. Notes should be made on your chart of all existing restorations and the condition of all of your other teeth. You should be given the option of having a full series of X-Rays rather that just four “bite-wings” if the total condition of your dental health is being evaluated thoroughly.
(b) A complete and thorough check of the health of your gums with a periodontal probe. This instrument is inserted between each tooth and your gums to measure bone depth. Six points on every tooth should be checked and the findings charted.
(c) A check of your bite should be made to determine how your teeth come together. The check should determine if there is balance, excessive wear, or jaw pain.
(d) There should be an oral cancer exam to check for any signs of oral cancer. Oral cancer is usually not recognized by your physician early enough. Make sure your new dentist is checking under your tongue, your cheeks and the roof of your mouth.
4. Ask what will occur between the time of your arrival at the office and when the dentist starts the actual exam. This will determine if there will be time for you to talk to a treatment coordinator or to the dentist before the work begins. A dentist interested in you and your health will set time aside to listen to your concerns and expectations during your first visit.
When you have investigated these four things, take time to do a brief mental review of the experience you have had. Recall how you have been treated on the phone. The treatment you receive from the appointment coordinator can often be an indication of how you are going to be treated in that office by other team members as well, including the dentist.
MAKE THE FIRST VISIT TO THE
OFFICE A TRUE LEARNING
EXPERIENCE
As you enter the office, be a detective. You may see little things that could be symptoms of more significant things going on behind the scenes. Here are some things to observe:
1. Is the reception area tidy, organized, neat, and clean? This may be an indication of how organized and clean the entire office is likely to be.
2. Are you seen on time? This will provide an indication of whether this is a people-oriented practice or one that is just treating teeth. It may not be realistic to expect the dental practice to be right on schedule all the time, but it is realistic to expect to be told within 10 minutes of your arrival if there will be a time delay.
3. Is the restroom near the reception area neat and clean? What you find there will likely give you an idea of what you can expect in the total office in terms of organization, cleanliness, and attention to detail.
4. Are the doctor and the members of the dental team good examples of proper dental health and hygiene? Do they have attractive smiles? This is an indication of whether they believe in what they are doing. The dental team members should be good examples of the service they provide. If the optimal dental health you want for yourself is not important enough to the providers you have chosen to have it done for themselves, then there is reason to question the recommendations you might be given by those providers.
The above suggestions are just some of the things you can ask and observe in order to make the right choice of a dentist who will serve you and your needs the best. Take the time to ask the right questions so you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that you are in the best hands for what you want for the long term health of your mouth and your smile.
Visit us at our website: www.LakesideSmiles.com or call us at 480-892-1711
Learn more about one of Arizona’s top dental practices at
I like people who have a passion for looking and feeling their best.
We are special because our entire office is focused on ensuring you can be happy and have the best smile and healthy teeth.
We help out patients who already have great gums and teeth and who feel they need to stay healthy. I can also assist anyone whose teeth are chipped or missing, so they can be proud owners of a flashy smile.
Our dental office is in Gilbert, Arizona, next to Val Vista Lakes and I firmly believe I am a Gilbert dentist who is there for those who care about smiling.
Folks usually hear about us from their friends or from our reviews on the internet and call the office. When you call, you will experience how we are different. My front desk ladies are polite, knowledgeable and sympathetic. We appreciate each person who has a problem and needs help and we take the time on the phone to educate and reassure you.
Also, we have always put special emphasis on patiently explaining to you your situation and treatment options. I do not do anything without going over with it you beforehand.
Now you can make a choice between two paths. The first option is to call my office right now to arrange for an appointment. Click here to contact my office.
Click here to learn about getting a smile makeover in only a few visits
Thank you so much for visiting us and we look forward to meeting you and your family.